So I have had this chapter on my computer for a while... The actual chapter is longer than what I am posting. Originally I was going to include the meeting part after this... But I have been debating posting it as I don't know if readers might be upset with how I have the town meeting go... I honestly DO think the way it is written would be Taylor's reaction though. I kept thinking about his reactions to other things that occurred in Stars Hollow throughout the series. So even though I would like for his reaction to be different than what I have written. I am going to stand by it. So look out for that soon and remember that while it won't be what I would personally want... it will be what I feel would be accurate.

KAT

"What. Are. Those?" I asked Lorelai, staring at three crazy looking shakes on the counter.

"Freakshakes Sookie style."

"Where's your roulette wheel? It's the only way to choose. What even are those flavors?"

"No roulette. Just Forrest Gump. These shakes are like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're going to get... So get to picking. Let's test those taste buds."

I selected one that appeared to be chocolate with some white bits in it. I turned it on the counter, looking at it from various angles.

"I think this one as it appears to have some sort of coffee smell... Maybe I'm just wishing that to be the case though."

"You should have gotten some coffee on your way here. After tonight, you know you're getting cut off entirely – Don't look at me like that. I am not cutting you off. I am just welcoming you into the Broken Hearts Club. Our hearts are both broken as they no longer are pumping blood that is infused with coffee.

"Can I decline that club invitation... I would rather have coffee... ugh..." I picked up the spoon, "I will warn ... if that's white chocolate... There might be a lot of white chocolate left."

"I told her you hated white chocolate. It's not white chocolate."

"But it is coffee! Espresso. Thank you Sookie. May she always hide some in my shakes. How is your ice cream cake?"

"Too frozen. I can't bite through that fudgey crunchy cookie layer. I need to pop it into the microwave."

"You can have some of my shake while you wait. I have plenty."

"Very funny, but that is all yours my friend."

"Hey Lorelai."

"Yes my dear Katalina."

My phone screen lit up indicating someone was calling. Siri thought it "maybe" The Center for Hope and Peace... Cara.

"Oh... Wait. My phone is ringing. I'll be right back." I said taking my cell phone into my bedroom and shutting the door.

"Hello."

"Hi is this Katalina Banks?"

"Yes"

"This is Cara Weissman you sent me an email earlier this afternoon."

"Yes."

"I was going to send you an email, but decided to call instead since I had a cancellation for Monday at 9am. Since I am accepting new clients right now I wanted to offer it to you if you wanted it. My fee is $150 per session. Our office can give you paperwork to submit to your insurance."

"I would be privately paying. I am guessing cash or debit is fine?"

"Yes. Is Monday at 9am alright?"

"That should work."

"I would recommend getting there 15 or so minutes early to fill out some paperwork. The forms are also on our website, but they are pretty standard history forms and information release forms. Do you need our address?"

"Nope. I can find it."

"Alright. See you Monday at 9am."

"Ok."

I hung up and left the bedroom.

"So who was the mystery call from that you couldn't answer in here."

"It's not a big deal... I'll tell you later... I might just have something I need to do Monday..."

"What sort of something."

"Just something in the morning. I'll tell you later... I promise..."

"You promise?"
"100%. I just don't want to talk about it right now."

"Okay."

We were quiet for a while as I started on the shake.

"So. Your call did sort of remind me that I need to talk to you about a call I got earlier today after you left the Inn." Lorelai said.

"From who?"

"You might not like this... but you were going to find out after you were done with that shake anyway"

"What?"
"Dr. A called. She wants us to keep track of everything you are eating."

I paused. spoon in mid air.

"We already do that for her." I said looking at Lorelai, confused.
"Well instead of just the list of foods each day... She wants the food, the time you ate it, and our signature next to each thing you ate... to indicate we watched you eat it. She also wants us to record how much of it you ate."

"You're joking."

"I'm sorry."

"Does she think I'm lying about how much I am eating? I was in the hospital for a little over a week. Pretty sure I couldn't have been lying since they were recording it."
"Well... It sounded like that is sort of what gave her this idea."

"Expletive."

Lorelai started laughing... "Expletive?"

When her laughter ended there was silence.. I continued eating my shake in silence. Not even quite looking at Lorelai who was eating her ice cream cake.

"I know it seems like you are being punished."

I didn't reply.

"Dr. A just wants to make sure the momentum doesn't stop. It doesn't have to be just Luke or me who is there either. If Sookie or Jackson or Miss Patty... whoever... if they see you eat some cotton candy while petting a kitten for instance... have them write it down, sign it, and put the date and time. Then have them remind you that we don't need any kittens with Babette next door"

"So if I want something to eat and no one is around... it doesn't count."

"If you want something to eat when no one is here... call me. I would be happy to come snack with you."

"Asking you to come though... that's... okay. fine. I'm not going to win this anyway."

"I really am sorry."
"It's fine. it's whatever."

"Oh and do you want to do your dress before we go tonight? Pinning it so I can sew it tomorrow morning? Might be good to do that too since my mom's party is tomorrow night and your abs will likely be just as relaxed."

I was grateful for the change in subject.

"Yes please. Hopefully it isn't too hard to do. I think just raising the waist will help... and cover this. The skirt is so full, should just go right over."

"You don't have to worry about hiding it."

"There's going to be people there that know my mother."

"You do NOT have to worry about hiding it."

"Your mother... I don't want her to be embarrassed. She told me she wasn't embarrassed by it that day we went shopping... but I was barely showing compared to now... " I put my spoon down.

"You do NOT have to worry about hiding your bump. Listen to me. Again. You do not have to worry about hiding your bump. My mother will be fine. I am shocked as hell I just said that, but I truly believe that. She didn't hide me in a tower when I was knocked up at 16." Lorelai took her last bite of her ice cream cake.

"Ok."

"I am going to grab some Pringles from the cabinet. I expect to see that spoon back in your hand by when I have popped the top of the can. Because we have a town meeting to disrupt my dear."

"If I eat a spoonful of shake though while you are turned around facing the cabinet... did I really eat it... since you didn't see it... can that legitimately be signed off on?"

"It would kind of be like those trees falling in a forest..."

"A forest of candy canes."

"Mmm... Candy canes. Do I want a candy cane?"

"Bring one to the meeting."

"Meh... Candy canes last a long time. I'll still be sucking on it by the end of the meeting and they don't really go with tacos... and I think I am going to want tacos after the meeting. Candy canes do go with ice cream cake though."
"You've moved on to Pringles."

"The salt and sugar make sense... but you're right... Pringles and Candy canes don't work. It's not the right balance. Are you okay with tacos for dinner? My mother hates tacos by the way. So maybe you can convince her you love tacos - for me - and I am sure some fancified version will appear at a Friday Night dinner."

"How do you hate tacos?"
"There's no dignified way of eating them."
"Maybe street tacos." I picked my spoon back up. I was almost done with the shake.

"No... because even though you can eat street tacos since they are soft and wonderful with a fork, though you shouldn't... they have street in the name... thus they are not dignified. You should know this."

"Hey Lorelai..."
"Oh are we getting back to what we were talking about before the mysterious phone call?"
"No..."
"Can we talk about the mysterious phone call?"
"Lorelai..."

"Okay. Okay. What's up?"
"You were asking about if I was okay with tacos for dinner... I think I am starting to want things."
"Ummm... My tracker is a bit low on batteries, because I am not following."

"You know how people want certain foods at certain times. They want something salty. They want something sweet. I haven't felt that in years. No hunger minus one time since... this... happened" I said while placing my non-spoon holding hand on my stomach, "I never craved cake. Or anything like that... you know."

"Really?"

"Well I guess to be fair... years and years ago... when I first started cutting back on things... I would miss things. Want things... Want those chips. Want a snickerdoodle cookie. Dream about those crepe cakes... but after a while that stopped. The longer I was able to refrain... everything just sort of muted itself. I didn't feel any of it. Didn't care."

"I literally cannot imagine that."

"The only thing I ever continued to crave was coffee. But I didn't deprive myself of that ever. I'm a bit... I'm feeling a little freaked out? I can't figure out how to say this... but freaked out seems to make the most sense? That I might be wanting things right now. Food related things. I don't know if it's because I am eating so so regularly compared to the past right now... or what. If it's the hormones from the pregnancy... or what... but it's sort of freaking me out a bit... because I actually think I might want tacos."

Lorelai stared at me. Putting down the Pringle that was mid-way to her mouth. I took the last bite of my shake... Lorelai didn't say anything.

"I'm not saying I could eat them and be fine eating every single bite. I'm not saying that I think there will be zero hesitation... but I think I might want tacos." I put my empty spoon down.

Lorelai grabbed my hand. Rubbed the top with her thumb.

"What's worse is that I can't figure out if I should hate myself for admitting that... or for wanting that."

"If you can't imagine someone hating tacos... You shouldn't hate anyone for admitting to wanting them... yourself included. We'll get tacos." Lorelai popped the Pringle she had set down into her mouth and closed the can, "but first... the meeting."

"Don't forget. We have to pin my dress."

"Go put it on. We'll get it pinned up. Then we'll walk over to Patty's and be perfectly late. Sound good?"

"Perfect."

I went and slipped into the Alice and Olivia dress. I held my breathe wondering if it would even zip. It did without an issue, but where it had felt loose before where the slightly low waist seam was, it now felt a little snug as it hit just where the top of the bump was starting to gradually form. The rest of my abdomen was under the that seam, hidden by the skirt. I let out the breathe I was holding as I realized raising that seam an inch or two would definitely solve the issue like I had thought. Thank goodness for Lorelai.